Donald Trump has been sworn in as president and the protests are already underway. If you plan to join the demonstrations this weekend but you’re not exactly a professional protester, here are some tips on making signs, staying safe, securing your smartphone, and even quickly getting a lawyer should things get crazy out there.

The Basics

Be prepared for rain. Bring snacks and water. Charge your phone to full power beforehand. If you’re marching with friends, establish a buddy system and decide upon a rendezvous point should you get separated. Understand that your cellular reception might be weak to non-existent, so you may be unable to call or text one another.

If you’re participating in one of the Bay Area Women’s Marches, they do ask that your register online using the “Register for the Event” button on the San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose march pages. Most of the other demonstrations do not ask for registration, but you may wish to RSVP on their Facebook invites to let organizers know how many people to expect. At the same time, realize any posts to those pages may be viewable by law enforcement.

Need a Lawyer, Fast?

We encourage everyone to protest as peacefully as possible, but also realize that both peaceful and violent protesters may find themselves under arrest. The National Lawyer’s Guild SF Bay Area is offering a free Demonstrations Defense Hotline this weekend with attorneys and legal advice for those who’ve been arrested. The number is (415) 285-1011, and you may want to write that number down.

Organizers of protests and those who genuinely fear targeted surveillance should take extra steps to secure their communications. Putting your phone in Airplane mode prevents the tracking of your location, though does prevent you from calling or texting. An app called Signal (for iOS and Android) is generally considered the best encryption app for your private messages. If you really need to communicate and genuinely feel you’re a surveillance target, consider a prepaid mobile disposable phone.